Prediction: Sometimes, not often, these games are a blow-out. However, mostly they are brutal arm-wrestles. The Bulls, despite last week's loss to the Lions, showed they are serious contenders for the Currie Cup trophy and should win by about five points.

The Lions have established themselves as the tournament favourites, but they have also showed periods of vulnerability.

A lack of discipline and shoddy line-out play were among the big concerns coach Johan Ackermann got after last week's great escape against the Blue Bulls.

The Lions mentor admitted they will not always be so fortunate and will require "concentration for 80 minutes" when they host a dangerous Sharks team this week.

"It is a quality side," Ackermann told a media briefing at the team's base in Johannesburg.

"People may disagree with me, because they will look at the standings," he said of a team sitting fourth - 16 points behind the Lions, with three wins and three defeats.

"We also haven't lost a game, but if you look at how many players with Super Rugby experience they have - Thomas du Toit, Marco Wentzel, Ettienne Oosthuizen, Joe Pietersen and Jaco Reinach - then you see there is a lot of quality in that side."

The Lions coach felt the Sharks were "unfortunate" in some of their previous games.

"We didn't play well against them down in Durban, we know they will come out firing and it is a massive challenge for us, as it will be a big thing for them to come and beat us up here."

As is always the case the Lions' powerful scrum will be an important factor.

Sharks tighthead prop Gerhard Engelbrecht revealed that the Sharks have focussed on their set-piece work this week.

"This weekend will need a collective team effort from us," the front row forward said.

"It's that, rather than a step up at scrum-time against a very good Lions pack.

"It's not so much that we aren't performing, but we need to work together.

"We're making small individual errors; everyone makes the effort, but not always all at once.

"This Lions team has been together for 18 months now, they're a good solid unit while we've only been together for a couple of months; but we'll get there."

Griquas may have struggled this season, with their first win coming only last week in Round Six.

However, any game against their neighbours and Super Rugby franchise partners, the Free State Cheetahs, is like a red flag to a bull.

For the Cheetahs - in fifth place on the standings and one point behind the Sharks (in fourth) - victory is non-negotiable if they are to stay in the play-off race.

Not surprising then that Cheetahs coach Franco Smith was a touch apprehensive this week.

Not only will there be revenge on the Griquas minds (after the Cheetahs won 31-9 in Kimberley last month), but his own charges appear to have lost the momentum they had built up midway through the season.

Smith felt that his own team's unexpected loss to the EP Kings and Griquas' win over the Pumas last week will ensure the men from Kimberley have a lot more confidence.

"It takes a huge weight off when, after five successive defeats, a team wins," Smith said.

"No doubt they [Griquas] will be throwing everything but the kitchen sink at us.

"No doubt they will be riding the crest of the wave and we will have to be at our best."

Cheetahs romp to victory

REPORT: The Free State Cheetahs managed to pull off a very impressive 44-24 victory against the Griquas in Bloemfontein.

Sergeal Petersen ran in a brace of tries as the Free State Cheetahs romped to victory.

Right wing Petersen’s two tries helped the Cheetahs on their way to a bonus-point win.

They ran in five tries in total, with the Griquas only able to respond with three tries of their own - right wing Ruhan Nel dotting down twice.

The win saw the Cheetahs leapfrog the Sharks and the Pumas to move into fourth place on the log and keep their semifinal chances alive.

Griquas remain rooted to the bottom of the table after just one win from their seven matches.

The Cheetahs made a fast start to the game and they breached the Griquas’ defence as early as the fourth minute when left wing Raymond Rhule slid over for a try - flyhalf Fred Zeilinga had no problem in converting.

But Griquas struck back just four minutes later when Nel skated over for a converted try of his own.

The hosts edged back into the lead once again after 16 minutes, when Petersen crashed over for another converted try to put the Cheetahs into a 14-7 lead.

Petersen was enjoying a fine half and he added to his try-tally when he went over for his second converted try, just nine minutes later.

The home team started to take control of proceedings.

The Griquas narrowed the deficit when inside centre Clinton Swart slotted a penalty with four minutes left in the half.

Free State flyhalf Fred Zeilinga kicked a penalty of his own as the home team went to the break holding a 24-10 lead.

Zeilinga kicked his second penalty, eight minutes after the restart.

The hosts wrapped up the bonus point for scoring four tries when scrumhalf Shaun Venter sniped over for a converted score after 51 minutes.

The visitors were not completely out of the contest yet when Nel went over for his second try.

They narrowed the gap to 17 points with a quarter of the match to play.

They were right back in the contest when scrumhalf Tian Myer nipped over for a converted try with 15 minutes left to play.

Zeilinga nailed his third penalty, with two minutes left in the match, to seal the victory and deny Griquas even the consolation of a losing bonus point.

Replacement Zee Mkhabela then went over for a converted try in the dying seconds of the game as the Cheetahs ended with a flourish.

Man of the match: Ruan Nel played out of his skin as he kept Griquas in contention. Fred Zeilinga was the outstanding Cheetahs player as he kept his team out of reach with his efficient boot. However Sergeal Petersen's two tries set up the victory and created a platform for Zeilinga to dictate the match.